Evaluation of Public Services is important for success of its implementation, reach and effectiveness and ensuring the desired output and outcomes. A robust method to take citizens’ feedback is challenging but important. The paper discusses the challenges in assessing the performance of public services with suggestions on the methodological approach to be followed for capturing public service users’ feedback.

In developing economies, poverty and inequality are closely interlinked. Going by different estimates, the population below poverty line is estimated to be more than half of the population of India. Unavailability or inaccessibility of public services and challenges in making e-governance initiatives reach the poor population is a major cause for their continuing in poverty. The paper concludes with workable measures to improve the governance towards reducing inequality and poverty.

Food production data of India shows marginal increase in terms of per capita food availability, in spite of having a National Food Security Act to ensure food and nutritional security for individuals. This paper using the official data of last six decades demystifies the sustainability aspect of food security in India and highlights the challenges to overcome.

Looking into the various sanitation initiatives taken in the post-independence India including the ongoing Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the paper using the government data examines the variations across culture, gender, ethnicity and geographic locations in the notions of dirt and how our concept of cleanliness has changed over time.

Using findings from a special performance assessment study conducted by the Centre for Media Studies on the occasion of the Modi Government completing two years in power, Dr Rao talks about NDA's initiatives, and the concerns over inflation and unemployment.

On the occasion of the ongoing celebrations of Modi Government completing two years, Dr Rao speaks about governance in the context of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, a slogan that Modi had come up at the very outset of his campaign in 2014.

The article discusses the decline in the number of children admitted to public schools, throwing light on State Governments trying to close down some schools on one pretext or the other.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2016): Two years of TDP rule has not galvanized people

The article is a key summing of the extensive field study carried out by CMS on the eve of completion of two years of TDP Government in Andhra Pradesh, which was designed to capture the undercurrent on the functioning aspects of Chandrababu Government.

In the ultimate analysis what distinguishes one Government from another? From an aam admi perspective more particularly what could differentiate a government? When would a government qualify to be described as a good government? Read on.

The article explores the dissociation between caste and occupation with the enactment of radical affirmative action policies, providing quotas in state and central legislatures, village governments, the civil service and government-sponsored educational institutions to SCs has broken this linkage.

There have been cases of children committing suicide on being humiliated by their schools for nonpayment of school and tuition fees. These children belong to farmer families who have a hard time making ends meet, let alone paying for their children’s education. This is despite the RTE Act of 2009, which provides for free and compulsory education to all children upto fourteen years. The study highlights the role and relevance of public and private schools in the country.

The sooner political parties adapt to RTI, the more credible they could become. To that extent our democracy will be robust and responsive. The Government’s argument that RTI will affect the functioning of political parties, if Central Information Commission’s order is implemented is imaginary. UPA Government even considered of an Ordinance to bail out political parties from RTI. The article examines why it is important to bring political parties under the ambit of RTI Act.

What difference has a Smart City made in the lives of its people? How distinct has their lifestyle become? Is the quality of living different than before and from others which have not yet become smart? The article explores these questions.

There is no doubt that primary education is languishing on several counts, as study after study has brought out more recently. Instead of correcting the ills and restructuring the system, public schools are being condemned with convenient research findings on enrolment and quality criteria. The study presents a critical analysis of the trend of privatizing primary education.

(2015 Alok Srivastava): Time to give it up more

This article reinforces the need to target right sections of the population as far as government benefit schemes and interventions are concerned.

Alok Srivastava (2015): Ethical Challenges for Evaluation in India

The paper is based on the author’s first-hand experience of the ethical challenges faced in India while carrying out social research and evaluation, in particular. It highlights the complexity of ensuring ethical norms in a country like India due to its diverse socio-cultural and multi-lingual population.

Dr Amit Rahul (2015): Relevance of MGNREGA Today

The report is primarily based on the author’s experience of studying, analyzing and evaluating the implementation of various rural development schemes including MGNREGA across various states and districts in the capacity of the Institutional National Level Monitor of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India as well as a professional sociologist involved in social research.

News channels have been criticized for hours of live coverage of extravagant road showsand filing nominations during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, blatantly violating Election Commission’s code. Of nearly a thousand “paid news” complaints on record during this poll, more than a quarter of them also received EC notice after verification. The question is what difference did the efforts of media make to make this election truly a game changer for deepening democracy and ensuring good governance in the country. Have they made any? This article answers.

Government of India’s ministries/departments are mandated to develop Citizens’/Clients’ Charters (CCC). This exercise, in fact, marks the culmination of a process whose origin can be traced to the Conference of Chief Ministers of States and Union Territories held way back on May 24, 1997, in New Delhi and presided over by the then Prime Minister of India, Shri I.K. Gujral. This report is an Independent Audit of the Implementation of Citizens’/Clients’ Charter of Central Departments.

The paper tries to see if there can be alternative approaches to tribal development and how this can bring about the desired changes in the tribal communities and at the same time retain the rich cultural diversity and varied ways of their lives. The discussion and suggestions in the paper are the outcome of the engagement with the development policies and approaches in post-independence India that have in any way affected the tribal population.

Dr Amit Rahul (2014): Disability and Sustainability

The article explains why the very process of integrating disability in general and women’s disability in particular as a category of analysis and system of representation is crucial for the all-inclusive developmental efforts.

Dr Rao suggests an action framework comprising of five elements towards implementation measures of good governance within a five term year plan.

Alok Srivastava (2013): Use mobile phones to fight malnutrition

The article explains how simple-to-use software applications on mobile phones can be used not only to disseminate information and create awareness about government programmes, but also to bring in more transparency and accountability in the service delivery system, thereby helping to achieve effective governance.

A wide ranging consensus seems to emerge about violent content on television having an adverse impact on individuals and society. In view of this, CMS Media Lab in collaboration with the Department of Communication and Journalism, Osmania University, undertook this intensive study to understand the violence depicted in Telugu daily serials. A secondary objective of the study was also to see the kind of advertising support such programming is receiving.

In India, as part of e-governance, online services are introduced in different public services by Central and state governments with the aim towards efficient and corruption-free public services. The article examines how effective are these online services in tackling corruption in public services and meeting basic needs of the common man.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2013): Is Good Governance Possible without Good Politics?

Good governance is not possible without political parties themselves being accountable, transparent and responsive to people. But what have we done to make sure that our political parties compete to be more transparent and accountable? Find out

Alok Srivastava (2013): Food Security & Ordinance… the reality check

Food security is indeed needed because India is home to one quarter of the world’s undernourished people. But are the provisions under the Food Security Ordinance really helping in improving nutritional status of individuals? Read on.

E-governance aims to empower people through giving them access to information and services. However, there are a couple of major challenges in the Indian context which may be true and relevant for many developing economies of the world. The article lists them out.

Dr Amit Rahul (2013): Community Life in Nagaland

The author gives a firsthandaccount of the thriving community life in Nagaland – the land of vibrant culture and rich heritage based on his experience of studying, analyzing and evaluating the implementation of various rural development schemes in the capacity of Institutional National Level Monitor (NLM) of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). The article exemplifies Nagaland’s way of community living.

Anand Anjani (2013): Development of Digital Information Centre

The paper sheds light on the revolutionary changes in the functioning of digital libraries in the age of Information Technology.

The article reveals the damages that TRPs/TAM have caused across India over the years, taking the particular case of NDTV’s allegations against Nielsen-Kantar, sponsors of the TAM-TV ratings in India, for fudging data and deliberately publishing in return for bribe.

Alok Srivastava (2012): Poverty Line or Starvation Line?

The article weighs down on faulty poverty estimation, questioning the very basis of counting the population below the poverty line in the country. These faulty poverty estimates became the foundation of the entire development strategies and programmes. No wonder that even after six and half decades of so-claimed pro-poor policies, poverty is still robustly widespread and is in reality increasing in a geometric proportion.

Alok Srivastava (2012): Right to Education: Where is Media’s Proactive Role?

In Delhi, a large proportion of the families belonging to socio economically poor and marginalised section of the society are unaware of the provision under the Section 12 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates reservation of 25 per cent of the entry-level seats in private schools. This Article explains how media can boost awareness about the RTE Act and make the deprived population aware about their rights.

Dr Amit Rahul (2012): Has Anna Movement Weakened the Civil Society?

What began as a national movement led by a widely accepted Anna Hazare, criticising political parties and politicians, somehow deviated from the agenda and promises announced on several public platforms by the revolutionaries. The article weighs in on what went wrong in Team Anna’s approach.

P N Vasanti (2012): Why I admire Justice Katju (for Vidura)

The authorexplains why Justice Katju has stood out from all the previous Press Council Chiefs, including his efforts to reformat the PCI, courting much controversy during his one year tenure.

P N Vasanti (2012): Moulding TV Entertainment (for Mint newspaper)

The article explains how television entertainment could be molded in ways that address what is in the interests of the people and not just what interests people.

P N Vasanti (2012): Investing In Reading (for Mint newspaper)

In the era of television and the Internet, do books matter? Revoking the TV and Internet versus books debate, this article makes for interesting read.

The Indian media and entertainment industry is growing at a fairly robust pace and looks set to expand manifold over the next decade. But how will it find enough people with the right skills to feed the machine?

The article discusses digitization of cable and satellite broadcasting, the relevant issues in the broadcasting sector and other unintended consequences of digitization that have been pushed under the carpet.

The article discusses the broadcasting sector’s challenges of implementing, and compliance with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) new rules on the duration of advertisements under the standards of quality of service regulations, 2012.

P N Vasanti (2012): A refreshing variation on TV (for Mint newspaper)

The article discusses the hype over Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate show and how it has once again reinforced the power of television in our lives.

The article reveals how the ministry of information and broadcasting’s attempt to communicate and publicize information about the government’s flagship programmes through advertisement campaigns result in failure or a backlash.

The article discusses the white paper on “Self-Regulation in Advertising in India- A critical Evaluation” issued by the CII National Committee on Marketing.

P N Vasanti (2012): The sting in the media (for Mint newspaper)

The article discusses the sting expose on the media, raising the issue of the eroding credibility of journalism.

Alok Srivastava (2011): Television shows –child labour in a new form?

It’s almost sixty-four years after India gained Independence. Despite promises by various governments over the years to stop the employment of children in industry, and even legislation against employing child labour, little has changed on the ground. This article looks at the increasing incidences of child labour among the better off or not-so poor families, with particular reference to the television industry, and its possible impact on Indian society.

P N Vasanti (2011): Broadcasting social change (for Mint newspaper)

One light ask the need for media to care about its social function—it is a business after all, and profitability isn’t always thought of in conjunction with welfare. But it is precisely for this reason that the media needs to be conscious of its social potential. The article explains why.

P N Vasanti (2011): Breaking news: corruption (for Mint newspaper)

The article highlights the triumphs of the news media in India in its crusade against corruption and their potential in raising the current debate on corruption to new levels.

P N Vasanti (2011): Spectrum: the golden goose (for Mint newspaper)

The article reflects on the many overlaps or similarities between the telecom and broadcast sectors with regard to second-generation (2G) telecom spectrum pricing and distribution.

What significance does World Press Freedom Day (3 May) have for our country, given the burgeoning media scenario? The article explains.

P N Vasanti (2011): Self-regulation revisited (for Mint newspaper)

The article illustrates the self-regulation initiatives by Indian broadcasters that have given new momentum to the sector.

P N Vasanti (2011): Holding the Media to account (for Mint newspaper)

The article discusses the malpractice and exploitation involving media companies, as illustrated by the closure of the News of the World

P N Vasanti (2011): Coping with an excess of TV (for Mint newspaper)

What does the robust number of channels imply for the Indian broadcasting industry and its audience? Does it imply a healthier broadcast sector or a better choice for the consumer? Find out..

P N Vasanti (2011): Anna hurricane in New Delhi (for Mint newspaper)

The article recalls the Anna Hazare ‘hurricane’ campaign coverage across all television channels and the internet, explaining where the media went wrong.

P N Vasanti (2011): A question of independence (for Mint newspaper)

The article reveals the government’s short-sightedness and ad hoc approach to broadcasting, especially with regard to the clause that sets the terms and conditions for the renewal of permission for TV channels.

P N Vasanti (2011): Revamped media policy needed (for Mint newspaper)

The article discusses a critical absence—that of a comprehensive national media policy that renders the I&B ministry powerless against immediate, intense pressure from the media.

Given the crucial role that the media plays in the economy and in maintaining a healthy growth rate, the question of accountability is a significant one. The article discusses the modality and systems to address the question of media accountability.

The article discusses the trend of paid news and a series of initiatives that could help ensure that the credibility of news media is retained.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2010): Information as a right (for the Hindu)

The article discusses the sessions and the outcomes of the fifth annual convention on RTI: Challenges and Opportunities held by the Central Information Commission to mark the completion of five years of the enactment of Right to Information Act.

The article lifts the lid on the strategic use of a political controversy fuelled by our news channels to promote and market a film.

P N Vasanti (2010): In the name of self-regulation (for Mint newspaper)

The Broadcast Bill faces resistance every time there’s an attempt to introduce it in Parliament. The article explains the relevance or urgency of such a bill for a more accountable and concerned media.

On television channels across the nation, the entertainment genre—which includes daily soaps, talent and reality shows—is using children to draw viewers. The article raises the urgent need to review laws and examine the systemic lapses that may have encouraged such exploitation, violating the rights and innocence of these children.

Are new technologies and the internet making the idea of secret or classified information irrelevant? Is it possible to create checks and balances so that the freedom that new media gives is not abused? Find out..

P N Vasanti (2010): Who watches the watchmen? (for Mint newspaper)

All sections of the Indian democracy have a stake in making the news media more accountable and relevant. Yet, these stakeholders are not just keeping quiet, but also adding to the media’s declining standards. Why are we afraid to bell the cat? Find out..

The notion among parents is that the use of such gadgets keeps children occupied and away from mischief. Read on to know how true this is.

P N Vasanti (2010): Cluttering up the view (for Mint newspaper)

No matter which channel you turn to on television, you are likely to find visual elements that seems to clutter up the screen—making it difficult to focus on one thing. The article explores how this trend has reshaped television news broadcasts.

The article lifts the lid on “fake leaks”—the deliberate disclosure of confidential information for political or commercial advantage.

P N Vasanti (2010): Time for a new diplomacy (for Mint newspaper)

The article carries highlights from a conference on “Public Diplomacy in the Information Age” organized by the public diplomacy division of the ministry of external affairs, in collaboration with CMS Academy that reflected the new wave of changes and challenges that diplomacy faces today.

Has “notes for votes” become a phenomenon to reckon with in election campaigns, or is it only an isolated practice confined to a few places? The article answers.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2009): Decline in representative character of Governments and elected representatives (for The Tribune)

The article explains the three counts where the electoral process has fallen short of expectations of a democratic system over the years.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2009): Paying for Votes (for The Tribune)

The article discusses the four issues relating to electoral practices that need to be addressed in order to usher in a new wave of democracy.

P N Vasanti (2009): A national policy could help Indian media scale new heights (for Mint newspaper)

Large sections of our population are neglected—both in terms of access to information and media coverage. The article explains why an enabling, futuristic and comprehensive national media policy can help change that and take Indian media to new heights.

Today, stock valuations and advertising rates of Hindi newspapers are comparable with those of English dailies. But what—and how unusual—are the content presentation and priorities of Hindi newspapers? The article tells all.

P N Vasanti (2009): Sporting times of news media (for Mint newspaper)

Sports, especially cricket, have always been a popular genre of news in our country. However, what was earlier an occasional front page headline has rapidly become an ongoing trend where sports dominate the front pages of papers and prime-time television news. The article tells you why.

The Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, clearly say that not more than 12 minutes (20%) of advertisement for every one hour of programming is acceptable. By analysing prime time of six news channels, this article shows that the violation of this law regarding advertisement time is more the norm than the exception.

P N Vasanti (2009): Media and its role in political news coverage (for Mint newspaper)

This article shares CMS Media Lab findings on the role played by media, especially the TV news channels and newspapers, in the coverage of election-related political issues.

P N Vasanti (2009): Has media missed an opportunity to set the agenda this election? (for Mint newspaper)

The power of the news media to set the agenda and to focus attention on issues that matter to the common man, is well documented. The article raises doubts that the media missed an important opportunity to inquire research and debate issues such as government spending, health, education, roads and electricity in the 2009 parliamentary elections.

Ahead of the 2009 elections, the Election Commission (EC) imposed a ban on opinion and exit polls because some of them were being misused by the media. However, is the ban the solution to encourage greater self-discipline in sharing information ‘responsibly’ with the public at large? The article answers.

CMS Media Lab analysis of the 2009 election coverage by select news papers and news channels shows that personalities dominated the news space. The article reveals how much coverage various politicians across parties received in these elections.

The article reveals the diminishing credibility of our news media and highlights the disconnect of our media with citizens’ needs and aspirations —whether through polls, surveys, journalist reports or even the way personalities, parties and issues were presented during the 2009 parliamentary elections.

Accountability is one of the key issues that all of us talk about during elections. We see how journalists question and seek accountability and responsibility from politicians during the elections. But what about media professionals? Who are they accountable to? Their audience? Their licensor/government? Their shareholders? Their owners? Advertisers? Find out..

The author who was involved in drawing up self-regulation guidelines for the broadcasting sector for the I&B ministry in 2007, explains the content of the guidelines and writes on her experience in developing the same.

The article explains what it is about reality shows that attract viewers and generate controversy. It also raises issues related to the honesty of reality shows and the need to have an independent broadcast regulator in place to look into these contentious issues.

The article is an open letter to the I&B minister advocating for an independent regulator looking into content implications of the media, especially the broadcasting sector for our society, laws, values and markets

P N Vasanti (2009): Doordarshan should be freed to make it relevant (for Mint newspaper)

The article explains why Doordarshan can never be a public service broadcaster in the true sense of the term unless given managerial and editorial autonomy.

In this age of media abundance, does this media ownership by our politicians matter? And what does this signify to our democracy where both politicians and media play different, yet dominant roles? Find out..

Revealing the stereotyping in a large number of children-based programmes, the article explains why there is a need for alternative programmes based on more research and innovation for children.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao and P N Vasanti (2008): Women could be the cause of next wave in mass media’s growth in India (for Souvenir)

The article explains six important developments that have triggered media and their ‘gatekeepers’ to take women’s issues and concerns more seriously, and enlists the efforts needed to expedite a more active role of women in media.

The plethora of television news channels in regional languages has surprisingly only increased newspaper readership, says Ms P.N. Vasanti, who calls it the "appetizer effect" of TV. Read more about this unusual phenomenon that doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.

In today’s market-driven media world, journalists no longer dictate priorities. The article shows how advertisers, market researchers and public relations people have come to dominate and determine the concerns and the content of mass media as the “new gatekeepers”.

This article analyzes the role of opinion leadership among the Indian farmers’ communication networks and the use of the opinion leaders to diffuse an innovative framing information source, e-Choupal. The specific purposes of this study are to identify opinion leaders by using social network analysis and to analyze the attributes of the opinion leaders in the diffusion of e-Choupal in Indian villages.

Strong regional news networks have arrived on the national stage. How have national players reacted to this regional surge? Has there been a conscious change in their news strategy? The article lifts the lid, backed with credible data.

It is clear that many media organizations aren’t bound by any standards as reflected in recent cases where some media houses simply ignore criticism that their content has clearly caused damage to individuals. Without accountability, transparency and measures to set quality standards, Indian television’s impressive growth story will be history, as this article explains.

Time and again, suggestions have been made to the Press Council of India (PCI) that it should have penal powers to punish the delinquent newspapers/journalists. In response, the council has said its moral authority is quite effective. The article explores the truth of this claim.

There is little doubt that the growing number of television news channels as well as newspapers has provided wider and deeper coverage of elections. But how has the media boom impacted a critical aspect of democracies: voter turnout? Read on..

The article lifts the lid on Indian political parties pursuing US President-elect Barack Obama’s -style campaign strategies of digital campaigning and fund-raising that involve YouTube, blogs, social networking sites, online petitions, Google and Yahoo groups and more conventional email lists to build and sustain support.

The author looks at some evolving cross-media ownership patterns in India based on her experience of being a participant in several consultations held by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) where diverse arguments and reasoning were offered by various vested interests, depending on where they stood on the issue.

This article looks at cross-media ownership implications to audiences as well as to the industry itself in the national context based on research data. It also highlights key norms the media sector should follow to keep India’s democracy and development well and alive.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2007): Maya ignores media (for The Tribune)

The article reveals how the BSP’s Mayawati’s unconventional wisdom in the landmark assembly UP poll successfully swayed voters in the days of hi-tech expensive campaigns.

The article explains why adversarial relations rather than support and cooperation between political leaders and the news media will help in deepening democracy in India and enhance its very scope and significance.

The article carries excerpts from Dr Rao’s keynote address at the National Conference on Professionalism and ethics in public relations organized by the Global Forum for Public Relations and Media Wing, Brahma Kumaris.

The article presents figures and graphs to show that despite proliferation of channels, their overall coverage of India has not expanded beyond what it was earlier in terms of news origination and focus.

The article explores how advertising and market research determine the scope of the media, including journalistic trends.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2005): Representative democracy (for Sahara Time)

The electoral process and a free press (media) are the two basic institutions which are indicative of the velocity of a democracy. But how representative are these institutions of the people of the country? How effective are they in fulflilling obligations and objectives? Find out..

Where does India figure today? In terms of not merely the coverage of India in the global media which, of course, is important but also in terms of the extent of participation in the media operations outside India.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2005): When TV errs (for The Tribune)

The article discusses the urgent need for an independent monitoring system for TV contents and how channels can comply.

Do poll surveys influence voting choice If poll surveys, both pre-poll and exit poll, have no influence on voters and campaigns, why are so many of them being highlighted in the news media? Dr Rao answers, with his analysis of field surveys for over 30 years, both for Lok Sabha and Assemblies.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2004): How much do they empower voters? (for South Asian Politics)

Pre-poll surveys have good potential to improve the quality of poll campaigns. But have they? And to what extent? A must read..

The article presents the highlights of CMS research in Telengana and Vidarbha districts conducted in the wake of renewed ‘separatist’ activities in both the states and the formation of a National Front for smaller states.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (2003): Media coverage of Elections (for Vidura)

Dr Rao analyses what more could the media have done in the 2003 elections to state assemblies and how differently could they have covered the poll process and party campaigns.

The article is a response letter to Ms Seema Mustafa’s banner story Pollster sells one poll, two letters to TV channels, which had alleged that the same agency had carried out exit polls for two different channels.

Today advertising and market research in many ways determine the media’s scope. Both functions are largely in the hands of corporates which in turn are controlled by foreign corporates. The article examines this phenomenon.

The article explains why our country needs ‘leap frogging at the rate of convergence’ of technologies (IT, broadcast and telecom).

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1999): Poll Eve opinion surveys – past & present

The article examines the growth and proliferation of poll surveys over the last 30 years, the methodologies, limitations and overall credibility of free poll surveys and exit polls.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1999): Poll Surveys – Is psephology a science?

Those who conduct pre-poll and exit poll surveys claim to be psephologists and insist on describing psephology a science. The media too often echoes such an impression. To what extent is psephology a science?

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1999): Exit polls – pros & cons

The paper examines how reliable exit polls are and why there is so much variation in the estimates of poll surveys in the context of the 1999 election to the Lok Sabha.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1999): Exit polls: pros and cons (for The Hindu)

The article examines how pre-poll and exit polls affect voters and campaigns and why banning or restricting media coverage of these surveys is not the right step.

The article explains why electoral surveys both pre-poll and exit polls are here to stay. Also explained are election-specific considerations, methodological issues, data analysis and estimation and method of interpretation of these surveys.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1999): Parties & Cadres and voter turnout

Increasing number of keen contests and polarization of political forces particularly with birth of more and more state parties is expected to result in a higher percent of votes becoming members of one or the other party. But has it?

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1999): Family Planning Communication in Retrospect- The Indian Scene with Bihar case

Will DTH help TV become a medium of enlightenment, information and not merely entertainment? Can we think of DTH as a means of reaching rural India more extensively, as is being attempted in China? The article explores the challenges and opportunities.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1999): Forbidden curiosities (for The Observer)

The article discusses the roles and responsibilities of the media in covering inter-state conflict, with special focus on the Kargil war.

The article discusses pre-poll surveys, the unease with the quality of poll-eve surveys in India and how this exercise reflects at best the trend, mood, and direction of the election outcome.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1997): To control or not to control (for the Pioneer)

Dr Rao writes about the importance of regulating the broadcast scene in the country and why instead of two different regulatory authorities, we should only one on the lines of the US Communication commission.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1996): State should support national broadcaster (for Weekend Observer)

Dr Rai interviewed by Weekend Observer on the topic of Minister of Information and broadcasting C M Ibrahim’s move asking Doordarshan to be self-sufficient.

As the Social Audit head of Public Utilities and the Mass Media, Dr Rao sums up the present media scenario, and how the information gap between the rich and the poor is widening and it can be bridged.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1995): Interview with The Sunday Observer

Dr Rao reveals the murky side of some newspapers and magazines, exposing a famous case when they manipulate pre poll surveys to promote certain politicians and political parties, or the agencies conducting them.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1995): Emerging media and the Changing Press Scene: Role of Small and Medium Newspapers (for Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers – IFSMN)

The article discusses the structural changes ahead for the Indian media scene and how small nd medium sized newspapers can cope with the increasingly competitive scenario.

Dr Rao discusses his findings from his research-based report titled Mass Media and Marketing Communications: Perspectives into 2020, with regard to the media and advertising industry.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1995): New Playing Field (for The Financial Express)

Dr Rao discusses how modern technologies have opened up huge vistas for multi-media, and satellite and cable-based media and how mass media stands to benefit from this convergence.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1994): Seshan is the real hero of this poll. He is like Krishna in the Mahabharat (for The Sunday Observer)

Dr Rao who in 1976, told Indira Gandhi that she was on her way out risked his credibility all the more by predicting a Telegu Desam sweep in Andhra Pradesh. – a prophecy which has been hotly contested by the ruling Congress party. In this article, he tells why he had no need to change his prediction.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao (1992): Why Indian market is out of touch with reality (for Panorama)

The article questions the very direction of Indian market research in today’s scenario, and how this exercise has come to overlook the interest of the public at large.